Chapter VIII: Crusade of The Crusaders
BLAAR!
Erika watched in horror as one of the Tigers, belongs to Nina, wrecked after a direct hit and spurt the white flag. Judging from the damage, the shells must be above 75mm, but no more than 122mm, so that definitely not an IS-2 shells. But what tank firing at them? There's also explosion of smaller shells, unable to penetrate Tigers's armor but enough to add the terror of the bombardment situation. Seems no more than 47mm, so there must be lighter tanks join the party.
"We're dead in here!" said Ogin.
"Try to fire back!" said Orange Pekoe.
"Fire back where?" Assam shouted angrily, "even I can't predict where did the shells came."
"Everyone calm down!" shouted Erika.
The chattering stops instantly.
"We now need to defend ourselves from this bombardment. Most of the shells are harmless to a Tiger, but some of them are big enough to penetrate even Tiger's frontal armor," said Erika.
"Taichou, I have an idea, if I may," said Fondue.
"Right now, I'm open to any idea," said Erika.
"We're lacking the room to evade, so I think the only thing we should do is..."
All the Tigers then suddenly discharged their smoke screen. The large opening then completely engulfed with smoke so thick that no one can see their targets. This is surprising, even for Liang'er.
"Gongzhu! What should we do?"
"They can't go anywhere, wait for the smoke to cleared up before resuming bombardment. I don't want to lend our arrows to them." said Liang'er.
Chinese team halt their bombardment on the Tigers. They're waiting for the smoke to thin out, while carefully watching if their targets are trying to escape. Eventually, the smoke screen thin out, but what lies beneath it is very surprising.
The remaining Tigers now entrenched themselves in a pentagram shape, protecting Erika's tank in the center. Liang'er quite amaze with how fast the Japan girls dig the soil and entrenched their tank in a manner that will boost their defensive postures against incoming fire.
"Kuromorimine might have the best mobil warfare strategy, but static defense is the core and proud tradition of Maginot!" said Fondue.
"Yes, but how far can we held our ground in this manner?" asked Andou.
"Longer than if we're exposed. But we can't held on forever," said Marie.
"Dai Taichou, we will try to hold on as long as we can, please do something quickly," said Erika to Miho.
"Got it, just hang on. I'll figure out something." said Miho.
Liang'er smirks. She then lift her fan again.
"Resume bombardment! If they want to cower like a turtle, then let's crack the turtle open!"
"Shi!"
Bombardment continues and this time heavier than before. The entrenched position gave Tigers additional protection, however without any relieve forces, it just the matter of time before the Tigers will finally succumb.
On the other place, another bombardment claimed their prey. Youko Minami and Anteater Team got white-flagged after two direct hit landed on their Shermans. Other tank tries so hard to either defend or evade, but alternatives seems far and hard to reach. Miho sat with her fist clinched in her tank. Beside her own company, she still need to figure out the way to save Erika's company. But the fact that she doesn't know where they are doesn't help the situation.
"Nishizumi-dono..." asked Yukari.
"Is it really no hope?" asked Hana.
"I... I can't think of any way to get out of here. This is the first trap I found hard to figure," said Miho.
"Could it be that we shall ended up here so early, Miporin?" asked Saori.
Miho nods in hopelessness.
"Well, cheer up. If we're going to end here, at least we're going to end at a beautiful place. Look at how beautiful the landscape is, as if somebody pruned them up for us," said Hana.
"Wow, flower arrangement surely made you see beauty in all things, Isuzu-dono," said Yukari.
Miho suddenly struck by realization.
"That's it! Pruning!" said Miho, "Saori-san, please connect me to Shizuka-san,"
"Okay, Miporin!" said Saori.
"Dai Taichou, what's wrong?" asked Shizuka.
"Shizuka-san, do you familiar with Ancient Chinese history?" asked Miho.
"Pretty much, why?" asked Shizuka.
"Is there any way to lay a trap by altering landscapes, no matter how absurd or surreal it is?"
"Well, as far as I remember, had one of those. But not in a history, more like a novel,"
"Okay, what is that?"
"It's from Romance of Three Kingdoms, where Zhuge Liang arranged Stone Sentinel Maze using Bagua concept to trap Eastern Wu's general, Lu Xun,"
"So it's really there after all."
"Wait, you're not suggesting that this is..."
"I'm afraid it really is."
"Then she must have trapped Itsumi-dono on the cornerstone of the maze."
"Could you break this trap and get to her fast?"
"Me?"
"Your Crusaders is currently our fastest tank, we need you to lift the siege upon Erika's company fast."
"I'll see what I can do."
"Good, bring all of your company with you for backups."
"But what about you?"
"Right now our flag tank is the utmost important. I'll figure out something else."
"Understood, I'll do my best."
"Thank you, Shizuka-san. I'll hand it to you."
Shizuka stood still for a moment.
"You can do it, Hime," said Rin.
"Yes, this is your chance to shine," said Haruka.
Shizuka smiled and take something out of her pocket. A compass with oversized rim, tied to a strap.
"What is that? A compass?"
"Not any other compass, this is what you called as 'Geomancy Compass'. Chinese geomancer use this to detect the chi flow of feng shui," said Shizuka.
"What are you going to do with that?"
"Bagua Formation manipulate chi flow by altering the landscape, and Geomancy Compass can be used to detect chi flow, that way we could locate any possible path that is hidden from eyes or ear. Tokouzo is the expert on this, but I know things one or two,"
Shizuka took a glance on her compass.
"Takeda Company, do you hear me? I think Itsumi-dono's Company relied on us. So do you all ready for this?" said Shizuka.
"Here we are again, Pepperoni-san. It's like when we took out that Karl," said Noriko.
"Can't wait for it," said Pepperoni.
"I always ready for anything, desu wa!" said Rosehip.
"Let's race to the finish line!" said both Kanako and Tsurigiko.
"Alright then, you all follow me and don't falter!" said Shizuka.
Shizuka lightly kick and rub Rin's shoulder as a sign of command. Quickly Rin pushed the pedals and the Crusader dashing through, followed by another Crusaders.
"Relying on those light Crusaders to helped us? What kind of tactics is that?" asked Oshida.
"Please, have a little more faith," said Erika, "Miho once send some weaker tanks to scout the Karl, and they destroyed it along with its three Pershings escort."
"So we have to just accept it?"
"No, just keep your mouth shut until we see the end result. Beside, it's not like we have any other choice."
Oshida then silent. Not long, a direct shooting came and white-flagged Fondue's tank.
"Whatever you do, just do it fast, please..." Erika mutters.
Meanwhile, Rin drove her Crusader directly into one of the lush forest. While she would like to avoid crashing into trees, Shizuka told her to stay on course.
"We're crashing into trees if we keep going, Hime!" said Rin.
"Stay on course!" said Shizuka while watching her compass.
"Have you out of your mind, Hime?"
"Have faith, Rin," Shizuka smiled.
So Rin keep her course fighting the urge in her arms to do evasive maneuver. All other Crusaders follow Shizuka's in straight line. Should the lead tank crashed, the other would meet their demise as well do to their speeding advance.
"Here goes!" said Rin.
Rin close her eyes as her Crusader ran into trees, but instead of crushing blows, the path suddenly clears into a much smaller path, hidden among the trees.
"Follow this path to the west, now!" said Shizuka.
Rin pull the driving stick and the tank moved to the west, followed by other Crusaders.
"I don't understand, where does this path came from? Out of nowhere?" asked Rin.
"It doesn't come out of nowhere, Rin. This path is there all the time, hidden in a plain sight due to landscape altering," said Shizuka.
"But how can that be?"
"Well, I can't give you a favorable explanation on this for not all aspects in this deed can be explained by science, but that's the gist of it. Now just follow this path and I'll tell you when to change course."
Shizuka then open the hatch and pop herself of it. There she saw some tanks, hidden in the shade of the trees, seems oblivious to Crusaders's advance. She quickly pull her phone and picture that while still in the move.
"Dai Taichou, I think I see some Shermans here, I'll send you the pictures."
Miho picked up her phone and looking at pictures sent by Shizuka.
"Those are M4A4 Sherman," said Yukari.
"Yes, it confirms my suspicion," said Miho.
"What suspicion, Nishizumi-dono?"
"That Chinese Team use tanks from the early day of Chinese Armoured Corps was formed."
"What? But does that means the Chi-Ha we're chasing was..."
"Yes, it's not a Chi-Ha, but a Gongchen Tank."
Yukari gasp when she hears it. Meanwhile, Shizuka's Crusader Company finally reaching onto some kind of overlook. But this kind of overlook is different since here, Shizuka could see the enfilade that Chinese Team layed against Erika's Company. There are five tanks with heavier guns constantly changing position, escorted by ten lighter tanks. Shizuka and all her tank commanders carefully observe the situation.
"The lighter tank is, obviously, BT-5s, and I think something that resembles our M3A3 Stuarts," said Noriko.
"No, it's not M3A3s, but M5A1s. Same hull, but with Twin Cadillac engine." said Pepperoni.
"What about that big gun?" asked Noriko.
"Isn't that Hellcats?" said Rosehip.
"Hellcat?" asked Shizuka.
"Yes, M-18 Hellcat, American Tank Destroyer. I know them because they're the fastest tank available, or un-available, that I really want to hop in and took away!" said Rosehip.
"Aren't American Tank Destroyers all had open-top?" asked Pepperoni.
"Yes, but these seems have cover on them. Maybe this is why they could join. You know, Instructor Chouno has already mentioned things like this, isn't it?" said Rosehip.
The chat ended after another Tiger, this time belongs to Naomi, got white-flagged.
"We need to do something, fast!" said Shizuka.
"Hellcats have glass jaw, their armors are very thin so that our cannon could penetrate them. Their escorts, however, is another matter." said Pepperoni.
"With 37mm and 45mm, their cannon, on the other hand, could tear us down. Not to mention that they're double the number than us." said Rosehip.
"But we only need to take care of those Hellcats, they're the one who possess real threat to our Tigers." said Shizuka, "Rosehip-san, Kashiwaba-san, could I ask both of you a favor?"
"Yes, Taichou!" said Rosehip and The Kashiwabas.
"This is very dangerous, but could you take them for a spin? Tease them, harass them, do anything to get their eyes fixed on you!"
"That sounds like I duty for the fastest speedster of St. Gloriana!" said Rosehip fiery.
"Hah! You must beat us first! Formula 1 superstars of Bellwall!" said Kanako.
"Just don't let them get you," said Shizuka.
"We won't!" said Rosehip and The Kashiwabas.
"Kashiwabas, let's show these guys the true meaning of speed, desu wa!" said Rosehip.
"Just don't falter behind, Rosehip-san," said Tsurigiko.
In a blink of an eye, Crusaders of Rosehip and The Kashiwabas plunged to the fastest speed they could get, dashed running down the cliff to the enfilades.
"Duck-san, Pepperoni-san, come with me to hunt those Hellcats!" said Shizuka.
"Roger that!" said Noriko and Pepperoni.
In the enfilade, Chinese tanks are currently rolling while firing on the entrenchment of the Japanese Tigers when Rosehip and The Kashiwabas dashed through them and caught them by surprise. Rosehip fires her cannon and white-flagged an M5A1, exploiting the confusion, while The Kashiwabas, in the same manner, white-flagged a BT-5.
"What the hell is this!?" said Yun'er, the leader of the escorts.
"Catch us if you can, you snails!" said Rosehip.
Rosehip fires again, this time straight to one of the Hellcat's sprocket, send her tracks dismembered.
"After them!" commanded Yun'er.
All remaining M5A1s and BT-5s quickly zoomed to get this two annoying Crusaders.
"Kashiwabas! Time to see who's the best speedster!" said Rosehip.
"You're on!" said The Kashiwabas.
Utilizing their speed, the two Crusaders running away, but they try to maintain their distance so not to outrun their enemies. Otherwise, the enemy would've just retreat back to their position and failing the mission. Not long after, the remaining 3 Crusaders arrived and quickly white-flagged a Hellcat by the combination of their firing power, while still moving. This quickly spread panick in Chinese rank.
"Gongzhu! The enemy has breached our enfilade, what should we do?"
Liang'er stunned for a second, unable to believe that her enemy has penetrated her infamous trap. The result next would be devastating.
Meanwhile, Miho, in the Shermans, asked Hana about what Hana mentioned as pruning.
"Yes, the greeneries, that's what I think I saw," said Hana.
"But Shizurin has also mentioned to be careful, since not all greeneries has opening," said Saori.
"Doesn't matter, we'll take them all," said Miho.
"What are you saying?" asked Hana.
"Saori-san, please told Erwin-san and others to swap their ammunitions to high-explosive shells," said Miho.
"What are you going to do, Nishizumi-dono?" asked Yukari.
"Enemy has prepared this landscape for us, it's time for us to return the favor and create our own landscaping for them," said Miho.
"So, we're shooting on forest and plants?" asked Erwin.
"Yes, shoot them all until there's nothing left of the original landscape," confirms Miho.
"This is not like you, Dai Taichou," said Erwin.
"I know, but we have no choice if we're going to get out of here alive," said Miho, "alright, all tanks, start the bombardment!"
Miho's bombardment of the landscapes and Shizuka's breach on the enfilade occurs in relatively the same time. This surely made Liang'er caught off guard of the development. The raging counter bombardment by Miho slowly turn the facade of the landscape.
"Taichou, I think it worked! I sense the wind is changing!" said Mika.
"Good, let's keep bombarding!" said Miho.
Another Hellcat got white-flagged, and Miho's bombardments has claimed its first M4A4 prey, white-flagged when a 100mm high-explosive shell coincidentally fall in its armor and disable the engine. The bombardment also create blockades which unable the Chinese tank to roll smoothly around the hidden path. Now more and more Chinese tank are separated from each other and with destruction of the forest, they're getting exposed as well. Miho now could sense the enemy tanks once again.
"All tanks! If you've seen the enemy, switch to your armor-penetrating shells and kill them! They've trapped in their own trap, now it's time to get them back!" said Miho.
Any exposed tank then become an easy prey for the Japanese tank. Meanwhile, another Hellcat fall victim to the Crusaders' rampage. Yun'er quickly ordered some of the tanks to stop their pursue and return to the enfilade. However, they're now quite far.
"Gongzhu! If this continues, our position is in jeopardy!" said Gongchen Tank driver.
"Yes, let's retreat to the river plain," said Liang'er.
"All?"
"Yes, all. There's no point in fighting here once this trap is breached."
"Shi!"
"Damn it! I never thought they could breach the trap this fast with many casualties in our hand!"
Liang'er clenched her fist in anger.
"Gongzhu, don't get upset, we'll get them back," said Yu'er.
"Yes, don't you worry, you still have us, The Five Tiger Generals! And we swore to give you your vengeance," said Fei'er.
